SPOT Satellite Communicator Recalled

April 6, 2011

Spot LLC has issued a product recall on the SPOT Satellite Communicator which is bundled and sold exclusively with the DeLorme Earthmate PN-60w. Spot LLC has discovered that a part, which does not meet operating specifications, was substituted in some SPOT Satellite Communicator devices during the manufacturing process.

In certain incidents, intended messages may not be transmitted, including requests for help or emergency assistance, when the SPOT Satellite Communicator is used at temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit/4.44 degrees Celsius.

Please note this DOES NOT impact the DeLorme Earthmate PN-60w handheld device itself or any other DeLorme product.

Spot LLC is committed to providing the highest quality and best performance products to its customers. Therefore, Spot LLC is conducting a complete product replacement of all SPOT Satellite Communicators within ESN range:

ESN range 0-2000000 and 0-2019999.

Please stop using the SPOT Satellite Communicator and follow the instructions below to promptly return the device for an immediate replacement of a new SPOT Satellite Communicator at no charge.

Customers who return their affected SPOT Satellite Communicator devices by June 1, 2011 will receive 6 FREE additional months of SPOT service automatically with a new SPOT Satellite Communicator device.

Important: Please DO NOT return the DeLorme PN-60w handheld. Only the SPOT Satellite Communicator should be returned.

The Replacement Process:

Save any messenger data that you want to keep by reading these instructions on saving your data. Spot LLC is not responsible for any data loss.

Product Return: You must complete the registration at www.findmespot.com/replacement and follow SPOT Recall Replacement Program guidelines. Spot LLC is not responsible for any data loss. Once you complete the registration, you will be forwarded shipping material. You can expect to receive your new SPOT Satellite Communicator within 7 to 10 business days upon receipt of your return. Spot LLC has chosen to self insure the shipment of your SPOT Satellite Communicator, and will assume the risk of loss for any SPOT Satellite Communicator lost during shipment. Please call 1 (866) 727-7733 if you have questions.

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Comments

They do seem to be handling the recall well. I submitted my form late last week and was notified yesterday the RMA pkg is on it's way so I can return my device - then they will ship the new one. The process does take some time, so I'm glad I haven't got any big backcountry trips planned in the near term...

This is the second time they've recalled a product. What is going on with this company? They don't seem to understand that safety and communication products like this need to be rigorously tested before entering the distribution channel....

The idea of a small, FAILSAFE, messaging device using satellite comm. is attractive. This company has a poor track record when it comes to delivering a reliable product that does what it claims to do. I think their marketing has outstripped their research and development. Reports of failures do not seem to be rare.

I looked at the link you provided. First thing is that most of the people posting seem to believe that the SPOT and PLBs are magic, giving urban-like response. That is completely wrong. A lot of people also seem to believe that cell phones are magic and that GPSRs are also magic. Sorry, no, just the basic physics precludes instant response and guaranteed rescue. Several posters on the site claim that EPIRBs, PLBs, and ELTs will give immediate rescue, because, according to one of the posters, the US Air Force handles the whole thing. WRONG! The US Air Force does not run the SARSAT system, for one thing. And there are several agencies that are involved in SAR activities. Plus, no device is "FAILSAFE".

As a former pilot with a few thousand hours and having participated in SAR based on the ELT signals, it usually takes most of a day before enough information is gathered to narrow the search area, and longer than that to pinpoint the location (aircraft ELTs do not have GPS chips in them). Even with the newer PLBs and EPIRBs that include a GPS receiver in the unit, it can take a significant amount of time before a search can be organized. And if the area is remote and weather is bad, it can literally be weeks before SAR can get to you.

One of the posters makes a blanket claim that PLBs and EPIRBs have GPS chips in them (one of the older posts in 2009). This is incorrect. One PLB at that time did have a GPS chip in it and a couple others could be linked to a handheld GPSR. Even now (2011), not all PLBs and EPIRBs have GPS chips. Even those that do are subject to the limitations of GPS - canyon and canopy effects that block the signals, for example, and multipath that produces locations that can be a kilometer or more in error (same as with handheld GPS receivers).

If you read through that link, you might believe that no ELT, EPIRB, or PLB has ever had a flaw or a recall. Sorry, but that is not correct. Plus people have been known to forget to check the batteries. (as a former plane owner, we were required to do a check of the ELT in our planes on a regular schedule, following a prescribed procedure, plus change the battery on a specified schedule - something that is not required for EPIRBs or PLBs).

This is not to say that SPOT is perfect. Rather it is to say that ALL devices have limitations, and that none will guarantee rescue, much less instant rescue. None are a way for "calling a taxi or helicopter" when you get tired. This is of course the same as saying that calling 911 on your phone when your house is on fire will get the fire department there in time to save your house or that calling it when someone is injured will save their lives. It isn't magic and no system is perfect. All these widgets are for backup only. Your first responsibility is to BE PREPARED to handle emergencies yourself, and more than that, to BE PREPARED, TRAINED, and EXPERIENCED enough to AVOID the problems in the first place.